Netflix Abandons Talks to Revive 'Terra Nova'

Brook Rushton/FOX

"Terra Nova"

The streaming service had expressed interest in picking up the recently canceled Fox dinosaur drama.

Terra Nova is officially extinct, at least with Netflix.

Just weeks after the company expressed interest in picking up the recently canceled Fox dinosaur drama, the streaming service has opted to pass on salvaging the series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, with Netflix and Terra Nova studio 20th Television unable to come to terms to revive the series.

Netflix's name first surfaced early this month after Fox canceled the pricey drama from executive producer Steven Spielberg and 20th Television but talks ultimately broke down.

Despite international appeal for the series, which starred Jason O'Mara and Stephen Lang, Fox canceled Terra Nova in early March after spending an estimated $10 million-$20 million on its twice-delayed two-hour premiere, with studio 20th Television announcing it would shop the series elsewhere.

Netflix, for its part, has continued its aggressive to push into scripted programming, picking up 20th Television's Arrested Development in November years after the comedy ended its run on Fox. It's also spending big on fare from David Fincher (House of Cards), Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black) and Eli Roth (Hemlock Grove).

While Terra Nova averaged 7.5 million total viewers and 2.6 million in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demo in its 11-episode first season, it failed to catch on the way Fox had hoped. Its two-hour finale matched a series low in the demo, drawing a 2.1 rating among adults 18-49 and an audience of 7.2 million.

Meanwhile, 20th Television still holds an option on cast members including Lang and O'Mara, who recently joined CBS' untitled Ralph Lamb Western pilot. Co-star Allison Miller also boarded NBC's Go On comedy pilot. Both are in second position to Terra Nova.